Apparatus for removing solid matter from coal tar

Abstract

Process and apparatus for removing solid matter from coal tar recovered f coal distillation comprising the steps of centrifuging the tar in order to produce a liquid phase consisting of tar which is substantially free of residual solids and a solid phase consisting of solid matter and tar, and mixing the solid phase with a solid material comprising carbon.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for removing solid matter from coal tar recovered from a coal distillation operation, said apparatus comprising: heating means for reheating said coal tar to achieve a desired degree of fluidity thereof;   centrifuging means for receiving the thus reheated coal tar and separating said coal tar into a first, liquid phase consisting of tar which is substantially free of residual solids and a second, solid phase consisting of solid matter wetted with tar;   a duct positioned to receive said second, solid phase from said centrifuging means;   an elongate screw mixer positioned to receive adjacent a first end thereof said second, solid phase from said duct;   hopper means for supplying a solid carbon-containing material to said screw mixer at a position downstream from said first end thereof; and   said screw mixer comprising means for mixing said carbon-containing material with said second, solid phase to improve the handling properties of said second, solid phase.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising automatic means for stopping said centrifuging means when said screw mixer is stopped. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hopper means is provided with a rotary distributor drivable by a variable-speed motor to deliver said solid carbon-containing material to said screw mixer at a variable rate. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising briquetting press means provided at a second end of said screw mixer for pressing into briquettes the mixture of said second, solid phase and carbon-containing material. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said centrifuging means is provided with an outlet means for discharging water from the centrifuged tar.